June 07, 2012 - Toronto - Don Mills
Frank Butson Reports:
Ann Brokelman sent along these pictures of the banding held at Harlequin Enterprises. Ann’s photos show Quest and her chicks. In the photo of Quest you can clearly see her satellite transmitter pack. Donna with Blaze and Mark Heaton,Shanaz and Amora, Carol and Mira and also Mel (who really helped put together the banding “celebration” at Harlequin)with Mira. Clearly from the miles of smiles everyone enjoyed the experience.
Posted on June 7, 2012 3:20 am
June 06, 2012 - Toronto - Don Mills
CPF Postmaster Reports:
June 6th - 2012
The second big step as we say for the young hatchlings came this morning, as one of the young hatchlings has only just now for the first time ventured outside of the nest box and discovered a band new world! With Quest (his mon) as its side, the hatchling (believed to be the little Male named “Blaze”) has discovered that his world is MUCH lager than his nest box, and holds new adventures! Typical of the event, now he will stress as to how to get back into the nest box for the next few hours to join his siblings. Soon, they too will take their few steps into a world that up until now never knew even existed!
Posted on June 6, 2012 12:27 pm
June 05, 2012 - Toronto - Don Mills
Frank Butson Reports:
Today fellow volunteer Rob Mueller and I had the pleasure/priviledge of attending the banding at Harlequin. Rob got some great shots that he has graciously shared and Ive added a few of my own to tell the story.
Before the banding started several folks watched Quest and her chicks from the street outside. Quest brought in a meal for the chicks shortly before they were collected.
Inside Harlequin headoffice, a large group gathered to see the banding which was filmed and was also being seen live at Harlequins office in New York. That is the picture in a picture on the screen behind Mark Nash in the photos. You can see Quests satellite transmitter in the pics of her. As you can see by her chicks and bringing in the food,it isnt inhibiting her at all!
The chicks Blaze,Amora and Mira came out one by one to meet their adoring public. Donna Hayes opened the banding with many kind words of support and a great introduction. On behalf of Harlequin Enterprises Donna (CEO of Harlequin) presented Mark and Marion Nash with a sizeable and much appreciated donation. Donna then was called upon to assist Ministry of Natural Resources biologist and long time friend of CPF Mark Heaton in banding the first chick Blaze.
More photos will come from the many gathered Im sure so dont be alarmed if you dont appear in any photos seen yet,there are thousands our CPF friends are sorting through.
Posted on June 5, 2012 6:06 am
June 04, 2012 - Toronto - Don Mills
CPF Postmaster Reports:
June 4th - 2012
Banding was hosted again this year at the Harlequin head office in Don Mills Ontario with a record attendance crowd! A huge thank you to all involved that made the banding such a great success. Behind the scenes, Harlequin staff pulled together yet another incredible event that will be remember by all for sure.
A big thank you to Solar Window washing and their staff who provided both the equipment, delivery, set-up and manpower to assemble the swing stage that once again got us to the nest ledge allow access to the nest ledge and the young hatchlings.
A big thank you also goes out to Berkley Property management and the board of directors of MTCC 918 for all of their assistance and support, and to Mark Heaton and the Aurora District office of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources for their support in banding.
Lastly, and certainly not least, a big than you to both the CPF staff and volunteers that were on hand (both on the window washers swing stage to do the extraction of the young hatchlings, and theos that were at the banding and behind the scenes) that were involved in coordinating and assisting with the event.
The three star attractions arrived in fine form, no worse for ware, and were sexed, banded, checked for health, named and returned to the nest box and their parents in record time. Just moments prior to the window washers swing stage arriving at the nest box to do the extraction, Quest had flow in with a freshly prepared pigeon, and each of the young hatchlings had full crops at the banding table, so their weights are slightly heavier (by approx. 20 grams).
The three hatchlings particulars are as follows:
1. - 600 gram male - 27 days old, - named Blaze - banded Black R over 41 - with Blue tape
2. - 845 gram female - 24 days old - named Amora - banded Black S over 13 - with Red tape
3. - 745 gram female - 26 days old - named Mira - banded Black S over 14 - with Green tape
Both Quest (the resident adult female) and Kendal (the resident adult male) were on hand to supervise the activities of the extraction team out on the swing stage, and we can report that both adult parents resumed parental activities moments after their young hatchlings were returned to the nest box.
We are waiting for all many of the photos that are soon to come in, so stay tuned…..
Some of the outside photos included with this posting are from Bill Longo,
Thanks Bill for sending these into us so quickly! Great shots!
Posted on June 5, 2012 4:58 am
May 30, 2012 - Toronto - Don Mills
CPF Postmaster Reports:
May 30th - 2012
We are delighted to announce that we have confirmed the banding of the baby hatchlings on Monday June 4th at the Don Mills nest site. A meet and greet will take place at 1:30pm on the 5th floor of Harlequin corporate head office, with banding to commence at approx. 2:00pm.
Hope to see you!
Posted on May 30, 2012 10:40 am
May 27, 2012 - Toronto - Don Mills
Ann Brokelman Reports:
While at Harlequin today I had a real treat.
Quest was at the nest feeding the young (all 3)
She came to the front of the nest and I can see 2 eyas in photos
Kendal was on the ledge two windows down - sleeping
Suddenly Quest starts to scream (thought she wanted food)
Quest takes off and Kendal after her.
The speed was unbelievable (I couldn’t barely see them with my eye).
kendal went in front of us towards the highway at killer speeds
Quest took off to the west at killer speeds
I could see in the distance two TV’s who made the mistake of coming to close.
Kendal attacked them both over and over
Quest came back to your office Donna and just sat there
Kendal escorted the TV far far away.
woooooooooooooooooooooooooooow
Ann Brokelman
Posted on May 27, 2012 2:16 pm
May 11, 2012 - Toronto - Don Mills
CPF Postmaster Reports:
May 11th - 2012
Finally captured 3 fuzzy little heads while they all faced different directions!
Eileen
Posted on May 16, 2012 10:48 am
May 15, 2012 - Toronto - Don Mills
CPF Postmaster Reports:
May 15th - 2012
Good morning!
The 3 little ones at Quest & Kendal’s are finally big enough to see very clearly!
Eileen
Posted on May 15, 2012 1:33 pm
May 11, 2012 - Toronto - Don Mills
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Friday May 11th - 2012
Hello All
Clicked on the Harlequin Don Mills webcam at 19:25 and was rewarded with a sight of Quest feeding her THREE hatchlings. I caught sight of three little white faces many times as she feed them all. What a great feeling seeing that all three remaining eggs hatched. Quest is doing an admirable job. I missed who provided the meal though. Yesterday Quest left the nestbox and was back in 30 seconds with Lunch! Thank you so much for making it possible for us all the watch this amazing event.
Irma Sakki
Posted on May 15, 2012 1:21 pm
May 09, 2012 - Toronto - Don Mills
Frank Butson Reports:
Ann Brokelman sent me this report to post along with some photos.
Arrived at Harlequin at 3:45 to hear the screaming from the parking lot. Kendal had a package and was sitting on his throne, while called loudly at him. Kendal took off and landed on the other corner of the nest building. where he quickly plucked the meal. Within 2 minutes he had flown into the nest, where a bit of a tug of war went on between Kendal and Quest. Kendal didnt want to relinquish the food package. The 2 of them together really showed Quest’s superior size. Quest took the package in the nest to feed her chicks. I went up into the Harlequin building on the 9th floor.Quest was feeding the babies but her back was to us. She finally moved and I got a couple of very bad shots of the young one.
We thank Ann for her wonderful photos. While the feeding chicks may not be up to Ann’s usual excellent photos, it is a great record for us to have. (Ann felt they werent so good not me!)
Posted on May 9, 2012 11:20 pm
